India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre launched under Viksit Bharat@2047

By Staff Report September 5, 2024 12:36 pm IST

The IGEIC initiative will build a thriving graphene ecosystem in India, fostering collaboration between startups, SMEs, academia, industry, and the government. International partnerships and bilateral collaborations will also aim to make this a global initiative.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, has announced the official launch of the India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (IGEIC), a significant initiative under the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.

IGEIC, a pioneering not-for-profit organisation established as a Section 8 company, is dedicated to becoming a hub of excellence in the commercialisation of graphene technology. The centre will focus on electronics, energy storage, healthcare, material coatings, conveyance systems, and sustainable material development.

The Centre was inaugurated by S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, Government of India, in the presence of several distinguished guests, including Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator, MeitY, Madhavan Nambiar, Chairman IGEIC, Asad Pathan, former Chairman of IOCL, Surendra Gotherwal, Scientist at MeitY, Prof. Alex James, and Kamesh Gupta, a Board Member of IGEIC.

IGEIC aims to establish India’s leadership in the global graphene technology space. The R&D setup is in Trivandrum, Kerala, while its Corporate and Business Development hub operates from Bangalore, Karnataka. The centre also has a manufacturing unit in Palakkad, Kerala, supported by the Government of Kerala. It creates a comprehensive ecosystem for graphene technology development and commercialisation.

In his keynote address, Shri S. Krishnan emphasised the transformative potential of graphene and how IGEIC positions India as a leader in this revolutionary technology. “The establishment of IGEIC under the Graphene Aurora program reflects our commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions and creating a robust industrial base for advanced materials. This centre will drive innovation and create opportunities for startups, industry, and economic growth,” he stated.